10. Law No. 198 of 2017 concerning the establishment of the National Electoral Commission as
an independent body in accordance with the Constitution.
In the context of ensuring the protection of children’s rights, Presidential Decree No. 75 of 2015,
approving the withdrawal of Egypt's reservation to Article 21/2 of the African Charter on the
Rights and Welfare of the Child of 1990, which prohibits the marriage of minors and sets the
minimum age for marriage at 18 years, also made marriage registration mandatory.
In the framework of combating and preventing human trafficking, illegal immigration and
smuggling of migrants, Egypt ratified the Arab Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime on November 20, 2014. In an effort to combat corruption, which is a major impediment to
development and an obstacle to administrative reform, Egypt joined the African Union
Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption in 2017.
The aforementioned procedures and other measures too numerous to be catalogued here are
all aimed at preserving social peace and public order and promoting the enjoyment of civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights by all citizens without discrimination due to gender,
color or creed, in addition to promoting the spirit of tolerance in society. Equally, in line with its
efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Council of Ministers
approved in November 2017 a comprehensive national vision that includes the following:
a. To form a committee to develop a national strategy for human rights in order to maximize and
streamline all efforts in this domain, with the participation of all governmental and nongovernmental bodies concerned with human rights.
b. The rapid completion of other draft laws relating to fundamental rights and freedoms
guaranteed by the Constitution, in line with Egypt's international obligations in the area of
human rights, and the presentation of these before the House of Representatives.
c. Effective communication with national independent councils and national human rights NGOs,
as partners with the government in this area.
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